Reverse-link.



M. A. FOUNTAIN.

REVERSE LINK;

APPLICATION FILED OGT. 16,1907.

Patented Oct. 19,1909.

I Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away the MILLARD A. FOUNTAIN, 0FBLOOMFIELD, IOWA.

REVERSE-LINK.

Application filed October 16,

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

1907. Serial No. 397,748.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, MILLARD A. FOUN- TAIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Davis, State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reverse-Links; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to links for locomotives and other engines andhas for its primary object to simplify the construction of such links aswell as to provide a novel combination of link and means for shiftingthe same.

The novelty in the invention resides, principally, in the form of linkand in the means for suspending the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a valvemotion provided with a link constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the link and its relatedparts. Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view on the line 3-3 of better toshow the arrangement.

In the drawings 10 indicates the main driving shaft and 11 and 1.2eccentrics thereon there being the usual straps 13 fastened around thesaid eccentrics.

The link motion proper embodies a skeleton link which is made up ofarcuate side pieces 14 which are connected in spaced parallel relationby means of upper and lower connecting portions 15. 'The side pieces 14of the skeleton link are provided with arcuate slots 16 the function ofwhich will be presently fully explained. The link block of the mechanismcomprises a pair of cheek pieces 17 which are connected in spacedrelation by means of an integral saddle pin 18. Each of these cheekpieces is formed with an integral arcuate rib 19 and the ribs of the twocheek pieces work in the slots 16 in the side members 14 of the skeletonlink, it being understood that the cheek ieces 17 work between the saidside pieces 14.0f the skeleton link.

The numeral 20 indicates the valve rod of the engine and this valve rodis connected to a valve stem which passes into the steam chest of theengine which steam chest is indicated by the numerals 21.

The saddle pin and rod 20 are connected by 1 means of the usual strap 22which is held to the rod by a bolt 23 passing through the ordinary slot.The strap is also provided with the usual slot 25 and key 26 for holdingthe same in adjusted position. Brasses 27 are also used for taking upthe wear. A set screw 28 is used for the purpose of holding the key inadjusted position.

Connected to the eccentric straps 13 are the ends of eccentric rods 29and 30. These rods are also connected to the links by means of straps 31and brasses 32. These brasses 32 receive pins 33 which are seated attheir ends in spaced cars 34, the said ears being formed upon the rearedges of the side members 14 of the skeleton link. The rods are slottedas at 35 and 36 and are provided with the usual bolts, tapered keys 37and set screws 38.

The hanger for the skeleton link will now be described. The said hangercomprises a pair of spaced members 39 which are connected at their upperends by means of a cross pin 40 and at their lower ends are looselyconnected with-trunnions 41 which project lat erally from the spacedportions of a yoke 42, the said yoke being so proportioned as to fitupon the skeleton link with its spaced portions lying against the sidemembers 14 thereof and its connecting portion extending across thecorresponding edges of the said side members. This yoke is bolted orotherwise secured to the skeleton link.

Hung in any suitable manner as at 43 is an angle lever 44 from one armof which the link hanger is suspended, the said arm being looselyconnected at its end with the cross pin 40. To the other arm of theangle lever 44 is connected one end of a connecting rod 45 and this rodis connected atits opposite end to a lever 46 which is mounted forrocking movement in a segment frame 47 and includes the usual handoperated pawl mechanism 48 for cooperation with the arcuate element ofthe said segment frame.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be readilyunderstood that by rocking the lever 46, the link hanger may be raisedor lowered together with the link which is supported thereby and in viewof the fact that the valve rod at all times maintains a position in thesame plane, the upper or lower end of the link will rock to a greaterdegree according as to whether it is shifted upwardly or downwardly.shifting of the link will of course result in This a shorter or longerreciprocatory movement of the valve rod and it will be understood, ofcourse, that when the link is so shifted that the valve rod is in adirect line with the center of the link or rather at a point equidistantfrom its ends, the valve rod will have no motion whatsoever. It willfurther be understood that by shifting the link from a point above orbelow this last mentioned position to a point below or above the saidposition, the engine will be reversed.

WVhat is claimed, is

1. In a link motion, a link comprising four arcuate bars, endconnections for said bars, a yoke engaging the bars of said link betweenthe ends to brace the bars together, and pins formed on said yoke.

2. In a link motion, a link comprising four arcuate bars, endconnections for said bars, a yoke engaging the bars of said link betweenthe ends to brace the bars together, and pins formed on said yoke forthe attachment of a suspending yoke, and means on the link adjacent theend thereof for the attachment of the eccentric rod.

3. In a link motion, a link comprising four arcuate bars, endconnections for said bars, a yoke engaging the bars of said link betweenthe ends to brace the bars together, and pins formed on said yoke forthe attachment of a suspending yoke, and means on the link adjacent theend thereof for the attachment of the eccentric rod.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

MILLARD A. FOUNTAIN.

lVitnesses A. J. FOUNTAIN, S. J. ANDREW.

